Interchangeable furniture.



F. BLANDO.

INTERCHANGEABLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, I9Ie.

l @9,66% Patented De@ 26, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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F. BLANDO.

INTERCHANGEABLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28. 1916.

Patented Deo. 26, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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F. BLANDO.

INTERCHANGEABLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED F5518. 191e.

' Patented Deo. 26, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mam.

. a device of this kind which may easily be' FRANK BLANDO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INTERCHANGEABLE FURNITURE.

Application filed February 28, 1916. Serial No. 80,932.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FRANK BLANno, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im- -provements in Interchangeable Furniture, of which the following is a full, clear. and exact specification.

This invention relates to folding sofa beds, that is, furniture which may be converted at will into either a sofa or aibed.

One object of the invention is to produce converted from one position to the other by a single operator and by a single operation.

Another object is to simplify the construction of the bed portion, and especially the bed-spring frame, whereby the latter may be folded compactly into the space below and behind the usual upholstery of the sofa.

A further Objectis to provide a folding structure of this kind in which' the bed portions are completely concealed when the device is used as .aI sofa, and irr which the characteristic parts of the sofa are entirely concealed when the device Ais made up as a bed. To these ends,'theparts constituting the bed are adapted to beentirely folded within the customary dimensions of the sofa, without dispensing with the usual upholstery and seat spring, and the characteristic parts of thesofa are arranged entirely below the bed when the device is arranged in the latter form. To make the resemblance to an ordi,

nary bed more complete, head and foot pieces -of the usual form are provided, and in order to render the bed structure more rigid, these head and foot pieces are made as single units which are themselves non-foldable but which may be folded as units into the back member of the sofa structure.

The invention will be first hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this specification, and then more specifically defined in the claims at the end of this description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein Asimilar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views: Figure l is a perspective view of the device as it appears when folded into the form of a sofa. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the device in this position. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section taken from front to back through the device as `illustrated in Figs.- lV and 2. Fig. 4 is a broken perspective view of the device arranged as a sofa, showing the preliminary step of opening the hinged section of 'the back of thel sofa preliminary to converting the device into the form of a bed. Fig. 5 is a longitudlnal. vertical section through the device showing an intermediate stage in its conversion'from a sofa into a bed. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical vsection thro-ugh the device arranged as a bed. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the device arranged as a bed, showing the duplication of levers and links on opposite sides of the bed-spring frame. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detailed viewV of one form of bed-spring which may be carried by the bed-spring frame. Fig. 9 is a detailed view of the locking device for securing the hinged section of the back of the sofa to the back member ofthe device, the hook-shaped locking device for securing the head piece in folded position, and the meansvcarried by the hinged section for automatically actuating said hook-shaped locking device when said section is closed. Fig. 10 is a detailed View of one of the spring-pressed latches and keepers for supporting vthe hinged section away from the floor when the top member of the device isin inverted position, as when arranged as a bed, the spring for automatically opening said hinged section when unlatched from the back member being also illustrated. Fig. l1 is a detailed view of one of the pairs of locking lugs for securing the top member to the back member when theA device is arranged as a sofa. Fig. 12 is a cross section through one of the pairs of guides for the free ends of the folding supporting frame for the middle portion of the bed-spring frame, showing the roller bearing and guiding means on said folding supporting frame, and Fig. 13 is a detailed broken side view of this pair of guides and the engaging portion of the folding supporting frame.

The device comprises a base member Vl, a top member 2, and a back member 3.

The base member l is in the form of a boX open at the back but closed. at the front and sides and finished like the lower portion of an ordinary sofa. This base member is supported upon casters 4, and may remain stationary during the conversion of the despecification of Letters Patent. Patented 1)@0, 26, 1916 The top member 2 is hinged at 5 to the front edge portion of the base member, and carries the usual yspring upholstered .seat 6, arms 7 and a front cover1ng 8 for the back member. Said covering 8 includes a hinged upper section 9 adapted to lit the back member in such a manner as to conceal the f'act that it is a separate part when the device is arranged as a sofa. i

The back member comprises an open'boxlike frame hinged at 10 to the rear edge portion of the base member, see Flg. 3. The lower ends of the side portions of the back member are cut away at an angle to the upper edges of the sides of the base member, as shown at 11 to permit said b ack member to swing rearwardly to the 1ncl1ned position shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The space between thekse cut away edges is covered by a portion 12 of the upholstery materlal, s ee Figs. 1 and 5, so that this space is not d1scernible when the device is arranged as a sofa.

The top member 2 has a foot piece 13 rigidly secured by straps 14 to its rear face. This foot piece is preferably made as a unit and like that of an ordinary bed. vIt is sej cured to the rear face of the top member 2 in inverted position, so that when said top member is swung forwardly through an arc of 180 degrees from the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, through the intermediate stage shown in Fig. 5, to the position illus-- trated in Figs. 6 and 7, said foot piece will Vbe in proper relative position to the bedspring frame. The foot piece carries casters 15 which serve to support the top member 2 in its unfolded position and also helps to make the device resemble -an ordinary bed.

The back member 3 has a head piece16 'connected thereto by pivoted links 17 which permit said head piece to be folded within said back member When the device is arranged as a sofa, and to be extended to the position shown in Figs.' 6 and 7 when the device is arranged as a bed. The upper pair of links 17 also constitute supports for the 'top portion 18 of the back member when the latter is swung rearwardly to the position illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The head piece is also provided with casters 19 having a corresponding function lto those on the foot piece.

Thebed-spring 2O is made in sections21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 pivotally connected to one another at 26, 27, 28 and 29. The end section 21 of said bedfspring frame-nearest the foot piece is pivotally connected to the bottom of the top member 2 by links 30. This end section does not extend the full width of the top member, that is, from front to back of the upholstered seat 6, the pivotal connection 26 between it and the next section 22 of the bed-spring frame being within the borders of said seat portion 6 of the top Lacasse member 2. The section 22 of the bed-spring frame is supported away from the seat portion 6 of the member 2 by straps 31 rigidly secured to the seat portion and pivotally connected to the section 22 between the pivotal connections 26 and 27, Figs. 6 and 7. Pivotal links 32 extend between the front edge portion of the base member 1 and the and 25 of the bed-spring frame are supported by means of a lfolding frame 33, Figs. 6 and 7, when the device is arranged as a bed. This folding frame 33 is pivoted to the sections 23 and 24 at the point of 'pivotal connection between them, and the lower free end of said frame is arranged between pairs of guide strips 34 and 34el in the base member. As best shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the lower free end of the folding frame 33 may have laterally projecting pins or lugs 35 extending between corresponding pairs of the guide rods 34. These guide rods cause the lower ends of the folding frame to travel in a substantially horizontal plane as the device is folded up, thereby drawing the middle portions of the bed-spring frame down into the base member through the steps illustrated in Figs. 5 and 3. The lower guide strip 34 is'arranged out of vertical alinement with the upper strip 34 as shown in Fig. 13, and the folding frame 33 is provided with roller bearings 35a at its lower edge to rest upon the lowerguide strip 34 and insure free movement of the free end of the folding frame along the guides., The lugs 35 may consist of extensions of the axles of the rollers, as shown in Fig. 13. Said folding section 33 is automatically operated by means of links 36 spaced below and arranged parallel to the section 23 of bed-spring frame, links 37 arranged parallel to the folding frame 33, and links 38 ivotally connecting the front edge portion o the base member with the adjacent ends of the links 36 and 37. As clearly illustrated in Figs.

-6 and 7, the links 36 are connected at their opposite ends to the folding frame 33 and the links 38, while the links 37 are dropped from the section 23 of the bed-spring frame to the points of pivotal connection between the links 36 and 38. The links 36 and 37 in conjunction with the upper portion of the folding frame 33 and the section 23 of the bed-spring frame form parallelograms and thus make it possible for the frame 33 to be folded or extended automatically as the top member 2 and back member 3 of the device are moved v.from one position to the other.

The outer end of the sectlon 25 of the bedspring frame, which is arranged adjacent piece 41 of the base member by chains 42 or other suitable flexible connections. As illustrated, the end section 25 of the bed-spring frame has perforated lugs 391 through which the rods 39 extend and by means of which the sliding connection between said rods and end section is made. As the device is converted from a sofa into a bed, the free end of the section 25 slides along the rods 39 from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and when in the latter position, is arranged near the upper ends of said rods where there is practically no flexibility, so that in this position the end of the section 25 is rigidly. supported by said rods.

The automatic Vfolding and unfolding of the back member 3 during the swinging of the top member 2 from one of its positions to the other is accomplished through the instrumentality of lever arms 43 rigidly connected to the back member and having their forward ends connected by pairs of links 44 and 45 to the pivotal connections 27 between the sections 22 and 23 of the bed-spring frame. As illustrated in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7, the links 44 are connected directly to the lever arms 43, while the links 45 connect the links 44 'to the pivotal connections 27 between the bed-spring sections 22 and 23. The lever arms 43 have stop lugs 46 arranged in the path of the links 44 in order to limit the rotation of said links 44 at the proper point to act positively on said lever arms for raising the back member 3 as the bed-spring frameis folded. The position of the links 44 in contact with the stoplugs 46 is illustrated in Fig. 5, where the back member is partially raised. When the back member has been fully raised and the device completely folded into the form of a sofa, the .links 44 and 45 are extended as illustrated in Fig. f3, while in the unfolded position of the device, that is, when` arranged as a bed, said links are folded upon one another, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In folded position, the top member 2 is locked to the back member 3 by rigid hook-shaped catches 47 projecting from the rear face of the top member and adapted to engage over laterally projecting lugs 48 on the inside of the back member, Figs. 3 and 11. The catches 47 are preferably arranged on the top member adjacent the hinges 49 of the section 9. These hinges 49 are provided with springs 50, Fig. 10, which automatically o en the section 9 when it is unlatched from t e back member 3.

When the device is arranged as a sofa, the section 9 is locked in closed position by a hook-shaped catch 51 on said section engaglng a spring-pressed keeper 52 carried by the to-p piece 18 of the back member. The keeper 52 is provided with a push button 53 projecting from the to piece 18, the spring 54'which normallyho ds the keeper in posit1on to be engaged by the catch 51 belng interposed between said push button 53 and the base of the socket in which said push button is arranged. By reason of this construction, the hook-shaped catch 51, which has a beveled end 55 for that purpose, will be automatically engaged with the keeper 52 when the section 9 is closed. Pressure upon the push button 53 will release said catch 51, and when released, the springs 50 in the hinges 49 will automatically open the section 9, throwing it forward upon the arms 7 as shown in Fig. 4. The top piece 18 of the back member 3 also carries a hookshaped locking device 56 for securing the head piece 16 1n folded position as shown in Fig. 3, said catches engaging the horizontal bar of the head piece. This locking device 56 is connected to the stripr 18 by a spring.

hinge 57, Fig, 9, which normally holds said device in unlocked position so as to permit the head piece 16 to be extended. The hinged section 9 carries blocks 58 on its inner face, and when said section is closed and locked to the strip 18 by the catch 51 and keeper 52, the blocks 58 engage the locking device 56 and move it from the unlocked position shown in Fig. 9 to the locked position shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the section 9 is released from the strip 18 and is thrown forward upon the arm 7 by the springs 50 in the hinges 49, the locking device 56 will be moved to unlocked position by the spring in its hinge 57 thus releasing the head piece 16.

In order to support the hinged section 9 away from the oor when the top member 2 is inverted as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the hinged edge of said section is provided with projecting lugs 59 extending into engagement with spring-pressed bolts 60 on the rear face of the top member just below the section 9. These bolts 60, of which there are two, one being arranged at each side of the device and extending in opposite directions, may be withdrawn for releasing the lugs 59 by means of a wire 6l connecting the two -bolts and having a nger ring 62 arranged about midway between them.

The bed-spring frame 20 may beequipped with any suitable form of bed-spring capable of folding with the sections of said iframe. TheV preferred form of spring is that generally known as the National spring illustrated at 63 in Fig. 8.

'- keeper 52, whereupon the hinged section 9 will be thrown forward upon the arm 7 by the springs 50 in the hinges 49. This the first step in the 'unfolding operation and is shown in. Fig. 4. As already explained, the opening of the section 9 releases the locking device 56 from the head piece 16. The operator then grasps a portion of the top member 2, or preferably the cross piece 64 of the foot piece 13 which is arranged within the back member just behind the top member, and by pulling upwardly swings the top member :forwardly upon the pivots 5 through the intermediate stage shown in Fig. 5j to the fully inverted position illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. During this opening-movement of the top member 2, the bed-spring frame 20 is straightened out, the sections 21 and 22 thereof being raisedupon the bottom of the member 2, the sections 23 and 24 being raised by means of the links 32, 36, 37

- and 38 and the supporting frame 33, and the section 25 being also straightened out by having its perforated lugs 39a moved along the rods 39 while the back member 3 is swung rearwardly by the lever arms 43 'actuated by the links 44 and 45 connecting said lever arms with the pivotal connections 27 between the sections 22 and 23 of the bed-spring frame. ,As the back member 3 is swung rearwardly, the head piece 16 is moved out by the links 17 to the Vertical position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and when said back member is swung fully backward, its top piece or strip 18 will rest u on the upper links 17 and firmly support t e head end of the bedspring frame in proper position. It will be noted that this entire operation is accomplished by simply swinging the top section 2 outwardly throu h an arc of 180 degrees, which may be easi y accomplished by a single operator.

For folding the device from the form of a bed into a sofa the operations just described are simply reversed. The o erator grasps the foot piece 13 and swin s t e top member 2 upwardly and rearwar y from the p osition shown in Figs. 6 and 7 through Ithe intermediate stage shown in Fig. 5, to the position illustrated in Fig. 4. During this movement, the links 32, 36, 37 and 38 automatically fold the supporting frame 33 and lower the middle sections of the bed-spring frame, while the sections 21 and 22 of said bedspring framel are folded with the top memmember is folded into ber 2, and the section 25 is folded into vertical position by reason of its sliding connecfolded and the top member 2 Aturned over into position for forming the sofa. It may here be noted that the pivotal connections 29 between the sections 24 and 25 of the bed-v springframe are supported' in the horizontal plane of the other sections of said frame by links 65 and 66, the latter being a very short link connecting the link 65 with the link 36 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. As the back member 3 is swung upwardly and forwardly, the links 17 fold the head piece 16 into vsaid back member, so that the top cross bar of said head piece is in position to'be gripped by the locking de vice 56 when the section 9 is closed and locked by the catch 51 and keeper 52. When the top member 2 is returned to the position shown in Figs. 1 3 and 4, the catches 47 engage with the lugs 48 to lock said to member to the back member against acci ental separation one from the other. It will be noted that as the top member 2 swings on the pivots 5, the hooked ends of the catches 47 will move in anarc which will carry them over the lugs 48 when the back member is fully raised, and that when the top member is swung upwardly and forwardly to open the device, the catches 47 will be raised out of engagement with the lugs 48.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of a top member hinged to the front edge of the base member and adapted 'to swing through an arc of substantially 180 degrees to form a front extension for the bed, a back member hinged to the rear edge portion of the base member and adapted to swing rearwardly to an inclined posltion when the device is arranged as a bed, a continuous bed-spring frame made in Vsections which are made'independent of the base, top and back members but carried thereby, means for supporting the top and back members in position to support the bed-spring frame, and means for automatically foldingl the bed-spring frame, the supports and t e back member when the top position to form a sofa.

2. In a folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of a top member constituting the upholstered portion of the sofa and hinged to the front edge ortion of the base member, a back member inged to the rear edge portion-of the base member, a continuous bed-spring frame made in sections independent of but carried by the base, top

Lacasse and back members, and adapted to be folded with said members when brought into position to form a sofa, su ports for the top and back members when 1n position to form a bed, and means for automatically unfolding the bed-spring'frame or extending it into isc horizontal position as the top member is swung forwardly through an arc of substantially 180 degrees.

3. In a folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member,'of a top member hinged to the front edge ortion of the base member, a foot piece similar to that of an ordinary bed carried by the top member, a back member hinged to the rear edge portion of the base member, a head piece similar to that of an ordinary bed carried by the back member, a continuous bed-spring frame made in sections independent of but carried by the base, top and back members and adapted to be folded with said members into position to form a sofa, and means for automatically folding the bed-spring frame, the back member and the head and foot pieces when thetop nember is folded into position to form a so a.

4. In a folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of a top member hinged to the front edge portion of the base member, a back member hinged to the rear edge portion of the base member, supports for the top and back members when in position to form a bed, a continuous bed-s ring frame made in sections independent of) but carried by the base, top and back members and adapted to be folded with them when brought into position to form a sofa, and means for automatically unfolding the bedspring frame or extending itl into horizontal position when the top section is swung forwardly to an inverted position.

5. In a folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of a top member hinged to the front edge portion of the base member, aback member hinged to the rear edge portion ofthe base member, supports for the top and back members when in position to form a bed, a continuous bed-spring frame made in sections independent of but carried by the base, top and back members and adapted to be folded with said sections when brought into position to form a sofa, the connecting means between the end portions of the bed-spring frame and the top member and back member, respectively, also serving to support said end portions of the bed-spring frame in horizontal position when the device is arranged as a bed, a folding supporting frame for the middle portion of the bed-,spring frame resting upon the c, base member, means for automatically folding said supporting frame as the device is converted from a bed into a sofa, and means for automatically unfolding the bed-spring frame ,and extending it into horizontal position as the top member to inverted position.

6. In a foldin sofa bed, the combination, with a base mem er, of a top member hinged to the front edge portion of the base member, a back member hinged to the rear edge portion of the base member, a foot piece similar to that of an ordinary bed rigidly secured in inverted position to the rear face of the top member, a head piece similar to that of an ordinary bed pivoted to the back member and adapted toA be automatically folded within said back member as the de vice is converted from a bed to a sofa, a sectional bed-spring frame having portions connected to the base, top and back members and adapted to be folded with said members when brought into position to form a sofa, the foot piece being arranged immediately in front of the head iece and in inverted position when the device is thus folded, and means for automatically unfolding the bedspring frame or extending it into horizontal position as the device is converted from a sofa into a bed.

7 In afolding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of a top member hinged to the front edge portion of the base member, a back member hinged to the rear portion of the base member, supports for the top and back members when vthe device is arranged as a bed, a continuous sectional is swung forwardly bed-spring frame having portions connected to the base and top sections, downwardly inclined rods carried by the back member and having sliding connection with the head end of the bed-spring frame for automatically folding or' extending that end portion of the bed-spring frame as the device is converted from one form into the other, said rods having their upper ends rigidly connected to the back member, flexible connections between the lower ends of said rods and the rear portion of the base member, and means for automatically folding or unfolding the other portions of the bed-spring frame as the device is converted from one form into the other.

8. In a folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of a top member hinged to the front edge portion of the base member, a back member hinged to the rear edge portion of the base member, a continuous sectional bed-spring frame, one end portion thereof having sliding connection with the back member for automatically folding or extending the same as the device is converted from one form into the other, the other end portion of the bed-spring frame being connected tothe top member by pivoted links, and the middle portion of said bed-spring frame being connected to the base member by folding links and supports, whereby said middle portion of the bedspring frame will be automatically lowered or raised as the end portions thereof are folded orunfolded in converting the device from one form into the other.

9. In a folding sofa bed, the combination,

with a base member,-of a top member hinged thereof over saidmiddle portion and thel head end portion into substantially vertical position when the device is converted from a bed into a sofa. Y

10. In a folding sofa bed the combination', with a base member, of top and back members hinged thereto, a bed-spring frame carried by said members and adapted to be folded or unfolded as the device is converted from one'form into the other, means for locking the back member to the top member when the device is arranged as a sofa, a sec' tion hinged to the top member and constltuting a portion of the back of the sofa, and means for locking said section to the back member when the device is arranged as a sofa.

11. In a folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of top and back members hinged thereto, a bedfspring frame carried by saidmembers and adapted to be folded or unfolded as the device is con verted from one form into the other, means for locking the back member to the top member when the device' is arranged as a sofa, a section hinged to the top member and constituting a portion of the back of the sofa, means for locking said section to the back member when the device is arranged as a sofa, and means for holding said section in open position and away from the floor when the top member is in position to form a bed.

12. In a folding sofa bed, the combination,

` with a base member, of top and back members hinged thereto a bed-s ring frame carried by said mem ers an adapted to be folded or unfolded as the device is convertnance with a base member, top and back members hinged to the base member, a bed-spring frame carried by said members and adapted to be folded or unfolded as the device is converted from one form into the other, a

head piece similar to that of an ordinary bed 7.5

carried by the' back member and adapted to fold within the same when kthe device is in the form of a sofa, a section hinged to the top member and constituting a portion of\ the back of the sofa, means for locking said section to the. back member, and locking means for securing the head piece in the back member, said locking means being automati-I cally operated by the opening or closing of said section.

14. Ina folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of top and back mem# bers hinged to said base member, a sectional bed-spring frame having portions connected to the base, top and back members, a fsupporting frame pivoted to one portion of the bed-spring frame, guideson the base member for the free ends of said supporting frame, and means for automatically folding said supporting frame as the device is converted from a bed into a sofa.

15. In a folding sofa bed, the combina tion, with a base member, of top and back members hinged to said base member, a sectional bed-spring frame having portions connected to the base, top and back members, a supporting frame pivoted to one portion of the bed-spring frame, and means for automatically foldmg said supporting frame asfthe device is converted from abed into a so a.

16. In a folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of top and back members hinged to the base member, a hinged section constituting a portion of the top member and a yclosure for the front of the back member, a head piece similar to that v of an ordinary bed connected to the back member and adapted to fold into the same when the device is arranged as a sofa, a hook-shaped locking device carried by the back member and adapted to en age the head piece for retaining the latter 1n folded position, resilient means for normally hold-A ing said locking device. in position for re leasing the head piece, and means .on the hinged section of the topmember for automatically moving the locking device into engagement with the head piece when said section is closed.

17. In a folding sofa bed, the combination, with a base member, of top and back members hinged to the base member, a hinged section constituting a portion of the top mem# herencia closure for the front of the back member, a head piece similar to that of an ordinary bed connected to the back member and adapted to fold into the same when the device is arranged as a sofa, a hook shaped locking device carried by the back member and adapted to engage the head piece for retaining the latter in folded position, and means 

